NATO and partners firmly committed to continue supporting the financial sustainment of the Afghan Security Forces

NATO Allies and partners, together with representatives of the donors’ community, reaffirmed their long-term commitment to continue supporting the financial sustainment of the Afghan security forces, at the plenary meeting of the Afghan National Army (ANA) Trust Fund Board, today (Tuesday, 2 May 2017). Participants discussed the Trust Fund’s achievements in 2016 and 2017, the plans for 2018, the coordination with the donor community in Afghanistan, and the implementation of auditing arrangements. They also discussed the ongoing coordination in Afghanistan between the Afghan authorities and the various funding streams, including the Afghan National Army Trust Fund itself, the Law and Order Trust Fund for the Afghan Police (administered by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP), the budgetary contributions of the Afghan Government, the bilateral contributions provided, especially the bilateral Afghan Security Forces Fund of the United States, and possible additional adaptations of the ANA Trust Fund aimed at improving joint training and interoperability of the Afghan security forces in key areas, such as medical support, explosive ordnance disposal, and counter-IEDs, amongst others.

The adapted Afghan National Army Trust Fund is NATO’s response to the International Community’s commitment in the framework of the 2012 Chicago Summit to continue to support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in its efforts to sustain sufficient and capable National Defence and Security Forces.

“Together with our Resolute Support Mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan security forces and institutions and the NATO-Afghanistan Enduring Partnership, our Afghan National Army Trust Fund has been an important part of NATO’s endeavour to continue supporting the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in its efforts to achieve a stable and secure Afghanistan,” Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General said. “Today’s meeting reconfirmed our continued commitment and the donor nations’ continued commitment to the safety and security of Afghanistan and its people,” the NATO Secretary General added.

The Afghan National Army Trust Fund board is composed of national representatives of donor nations and the Trust Fund manager (represented by the United States). NATO Secretary General and a donor nation representative co-chair the Board. Plenary meetings of the Board were held on 1 September 2014, 26 June 2015, and 11 May 2016. Mr.Eklil Ahmad Hakimi, Ministry of Finance of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan took part in today’s meeting.